The Hidden Life of Thomas Randele: A 50-Year Disappearance and the Power of a New Legal Identity
Amicus International Consulting Highlights One of America’s Most Fascinating Identity Transformations—and the Growing Demand for New Legal Identities in 2025
VANCOUVER, British Columbia – When Boston businessman Thomas Randele died in May 2021, his friends and family remembered him as a loyal husband, avid golfer, and dedicated car salesman. What they didn’t know—what no one knew—was that Thomas Randele had spent the last 50 years living under a false identity. His real name was Ted Conrad, and in 1969, he committed one of the biggest bank heists in Cleveland history before disappearing without a trace.
This astonishing case is now a textbook example of how fugitives, dissidents, and privacy-seekers can reinvent themselves under new legal identities—a service offered ethically and legally by Amicus International Consulting.
“The story of Ted Conrad, alias Thomas Randele, shows that even in the face of federal charges and a nationwide manhunt, a new identity can be constructed and maintained for decades,” said Alexander Jean-Baptiste, CEO of Amicus International. “We don’t condone illegal activity—but we recognize the importance of privacy, protection, and lawful transformation.”
From Teller to Fugitive: The Original Disappearance
In July 1969, just one day after his 20th birthday, Ted Conrad walked out of the Society National Bank in Cleveland, Ohio, with a paper bag containing $215,000—worth more than $1.6 million today. At the time, bank security was lax, and Conrad, a teller, took advantage of the system’s weaknesses.
Within days, Conrad vanished. Letters to his girlfriend revealed stops in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. He mistakenly believed he could return once the statute of limitations expired in seven years, unaware that an indictment would nullify that assumption.
Building a New Identity: The Birth of Thomas Randele
By 1970, Conrad had reinvented himself as Thomas Randele. He visited a Social Security Administration office in Boston, requested a new Social Security Number, made himself two years older, and started building an entirely new life. In those days, waiting until adulthood to apply for an SSN was not uncommon, and no red flags were raised.
With this new identity, Randele opened bank accounts, built a credit history, and acquired a valid U.S. passport. He found work as a golf instructor, married in 1982, and worked in automotive sales for decades, leaving no trace of his past behind.
Case Study: The Psychology of Disappearance
For nearly 40 years, Randele lived an unassuming life. But his former identity was never far from the surface. He was private, avoided discussions about his past, and never disclosed personal details to even his closest friends. After his death, the FBI finally confirmed his identity through forensic investigation and document matching.
“He wore sunglasses, grew a beard, and lived quietly. But more importantly, he built an airtight identity framework—just like many clients who come to us for lawful anonymity and privacy,” said Linda Martinez, Legal Director at Amicus International.
Real-World Parallels: Other Long-Term Fugitives Who Vanished
Randele’s case is not unique. Amicus International has analyzed other famous examples of fugitives who used new identities to evade capture or rebuild their lives.
Frank Abagnale
Immortalized in Catch Me If You Can, Abagnale impersonated an airline pilot, doctor, and lawyer, successfully forging identities for years. Though eventually caught, his story proves how personal reinvention can bypass conventional surveillance.
John List
In 1971, John List murdered his family in New Jersey, disappeared, and assumed a new identity as Robert Clark. He wasn’t captured until 1989, when forensic sketches led to his arrest, 18 years later.
A U.S. State Department employee, Bishop allegedly killed his entire family in 1976 and vanished. Despite being added to the FBI’s Most Wanted list, he remains at large and is believed to be living under a new identity, possibly in Europe or South America.
Robert Fisher
Accused of killing his wife and children in Arizona in 2001, Fisher used outdoor survival skills to vanish. Authorities believe he may still be living off-grid under a new name.
How to Create a New Legal Identity
According to Amicus International Consulting, the process of creating a new identity legally, particularly for clients seeking protection or privacy, requires precise steps and a lawful strategy:
- Name and Backstory Construction – Selecting a name and crafting a believable life narrative.
- Government-Issued Documentation – Legal name change, new birth registration where permissible, and application for a new passport or TIN.
- Establishing Financial Credibility – Opening accounts, building credit, and maintaining consistent public records.
- Employment and Lifestyle Integration – Securing a legitimate job and forging new professional and social networks.
- Digital Disconnection – Scrubbing prior online presence and ensuring anonymity on platforms and databases.
“You cannot simply disappear. You must legally reappear somewhere else—with full documentation and a trail that stands up to scrutiny,” said Willard Dunne, Director of Operations at Amicus.
Why Clients Seek Legal Identity Change
While fugitives are a minority, many Amicus clients are high-net-worth individuals, journalists, whistleblowers, or citizens of politically unstable nations. Common motivations include:
- Escaping political persecution
- Avoiding surveillance in oppressive regimes
- Protecting personal assets from public visibility
- Safeguarding the family in hostile environments
- Starting over after a high-profile reputational collapse
Case Study: Anonymous Whistleblower Resettled in Europe
A former government contractor in Southeast Asia contacted Amicus after facing threats from his home country. Using a combination of ancestral citizenship and legal name change, Amicus relocated him to a Schengen-zone country under a new, legal identity. He now works remotely and lives safely with his family.
Amicus International’s Role: Legal and Ethical Pathways Only
Amicus International strictly adheres to international law. Their team includes legal advisors, genealogists, digital privacy specialists, and biometric consultants.
“We do not assist criminals,” emphasized Jean-Baptiste. “But we help the innocent escape tyranny, violence, or scrutiny. We help the overlooked reclaim their peace.”
The firm does not condone or support falsified documentation. All identity creation and second passport programs offered are through legal means, including Citizenship by Investment (CBI), ancestry-based naturalization, and government-approved residency programs.
Conclusion: A Life Rewritten—and the Future of Identity
The story of Thomas Randele is both a mystery and a manual. It showcases the endurance of identity reinvention—and the lengths to which individuals will go to find freedom, peace, and safety.
As surveillance expands and privacy diminishes, legal identity change will remain one of the last true frontiers of personal autonomy.
📞 Contact Information
Phone: +1 (604) 200-5402
Email: info@amicusint.ca
Website: www.amicusint.ca
